Holography is a visual trick which lets viewer think they are in front of a 3D object in front of them.
Questioning the reality of holograms is questioning the reality of life “a la” matrix. A philosophical debate.

Different holographic solutions where presented and explained at a Tokyo Interaction Center event.

Whatever technology is used to create holographic images, non interactive images or animations are extremely boring and rarely engaging.

Interacting with light is a tricky issue as there is nothing to touch and placing devices like a mouse or a trackpad “killes” the effect.

Finally the best is to interact is tracking finger pointing at the hologram.

AirStrike is the perfect tool for achieving this goal.

Here is a simulation showing the association between a “dreamoc” holographic system (but there are other manufacturers, and we would be happy to collaborate with them) and AirStrike. A real object is on display. Holographic contents appear around the object and propose menu to the viewer who “clicks” it. The content can be stereoscopique adding more to the 3D effect.

Applications are numerous in retail and museums.

Here is an example designed for a luxury watch maker. The visitor points at a real watch on display in the glass case. Holographic contents appears around the selected watch.

Holography can be larger scale.

In the below example, a system similar to “Vizoo” is used to create the holographic effect which separates the viewer from the artifact.

AirStrike lets the visitor get augmented information according to where he points toward the artifact’s details.

On July 23rd, LM3LABS hosted the Tokyo Interaction Center, aka TinC.

Pictures can be seen on http://bit.ly/bnJ0FG

Among guests, Tokuda-san a PhD candidate from University of Tokyo specialized in holographic 3D screens. He presented a small model of his research. We helped him to illustrate the application of his work to the “commercial” world and this the result.

A ring of very light mist mixed with fragrange is pulsed in a shop while a projector synchronize images with the ring size, dimension, speed, density in order to create a 3D effect to viewer under the “cloud”.

3D visualizations simply look like coming to the visitors. When the cloud reach the viewer it caries a fresh fragrange

Tokuda-san interview, in Japanese, can be seen on TinC’s YouTube Page: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrkxmrHnVnQ

At LM3LABS we do not believe much in cramming the real life into the small PC window. Recreating an all virtualized world.

We believe more in growing the digital world into the real life. This requires new types of display, like real size holography technologies, but also, and more importantly, different interaction methods. No more mice, trackpads,  only free-air interactivity can accomodate this vision.

Call your virtual assistant in a gesture. She is here, right in front of you like a real person, alive.

AirStrike lets users use their finger in the air to interact with holograms.

Holograms can be used as receptionists, presenters, augmented reality objects, virtual meeting and one day visualizing your Facebook friends right in the middle of your living room, real size !